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1 Methodism and Abstinence Methodism and Abstinence: a History of The Methodist Church and Teetotalism Submitted by Jonathan Paul Curtis to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology In February 2016 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………….. 1 2 Methodism and Abstinence: a History of The Methodist Church and Teetotalism Abstract: This thesis has two overarching aims. The first aim is to understand the origins and development of temperance and abstinence in British Methodism, particularly through the theology that informed what may broadly be called the Methodist teetotal movement in its period of greatest popularity from 1830 until 1919. The second is to consider the downfall of this movement in the period from 1945 until 1974, when the Methodist Connexion adopted the view that each Methodist “must consider his personal attitude to all drugs in relation to his Christian vocation”.1 The need for the study arises from the relative dearth of historical investigation regarding Methodism and abstinence. Representations of Methodism and abstinence tend either to be partisan or to lack wider understanding of the abstinence movement, or the theology of Methodism. Methodologically, this thesis attempts to hold together historical and theological considerations; it is important to consider both the socio-economic contexts in which diverse abstinence and teetotal movements arose and the theological motivations that drove British Methodist belief and practice. Regarding the origins and development of temperance and abstinence in British Methodism, it is proposed in this thesis that the Bible Christians were the first organised Methodist abstainers, and that their practice was likely to have been influenced by John Wesley's theologies of sanctification, holiness and Christian perfection. The thesis is an attempt to counter the Bible Christian’s diminished historical significance, as well as to investigate the likely impact of the theological underpinnings for their abstinence. Regarding the downfall of temperance and abstinence in British Methodism in the period from 1945 until 1974, this thesis will propose that a loss of focus upon holiness as a catalyst for abstinence was detrimental to the growth and continuation of the teetotal movement throughout Methodism after World War Two. It will highlight the general rejection of this focus on encouraged abstinence in the second half of the twentieth century, acknowledging the changes and disagreement within British Methodism to which this dismissal led. Concluding comments allude to the need for a renewed witness within British Methodism to societal and theological imperatives for both temperance and abstinence. 1 A Methodist Statement on the Non-Medical Use Of Drugs: Adopted by the Methodist Conference of 1974 states that “the sincerity and integrity of those who take differing views on whether they should drink or abstain is fully recognised”. 3 4 Methodism and Abstinence: a History of The Methodist Church and Teetotalism List of Tables and Illustrations 7 Chapter 1 – Introduction 9 Overview 9 Thesis Aims 13 Teetotalism as a Movement Outside of the Church 15 Holiness and Sanctification as Theological Foundations of Methodism 16 Nineteenth century Methodism’s Social Ethics 20 The Separation of Methodism from Abstinence 21 Historical Methodology 22 Chapter 2: Literature Review 33 Methodist Theology 33 Methodist History 39 Wesleyan Methodist Church History 40 Primitive Methodist Church History 45 Bible Christian history 46 Alcohol and Abstinence 49 Chapter 3 – The Origins of Teetotalism in England 57 Alcohol and Abstinence after the Industrial Revolution 62 Temperance and Teetotalism as a secular movement 67 Chapter 4 – John Wesley, the Bible Christians and the beginnings of a Methodist Teetotal Movement 83 John Wesley’s life and a view of Methodist origins 87 Methodism after Wesley’s death 91 John Wesley the figurehead 92 Wesley’s Theology of Sanctification 94 Wesley’s “Christian Perfection” 100 Practical examples of Wesley’s Theology 105 Bible Christian Teetotalism 107 How Wesleyan Theology defined the Bible Christians 127 Chapter 5 – Primitive Methodist Abstinence 135 The Primitive Methodist Church 136 The Primitive Methodist Church and teetotalism 138 Chapter 6 – The Wesleyan Methodist Church 149 Wesleyan teetotalism 150 Methodist New Connexion 164 Wesleyan Association 165 Comparing the origins and development of temperance and abstinence across British Methodist traditions. 166 When and in what way was the cause adopted? 166 Reasons used for positions taken on teetotalism 170 Chapter 7 – The UMC, Union and the Twentieth Century 177 The United Methodist Church and the First World War 177 After Methodist Union 185 Chapter 8 - Current views on Alcohol and Abstinence amongst Methodist people in England, Wales and Scotland 195 Objectives 195 Limitations 196 5 Descriptive Statistics 196 Reasons for current abstinence 200 Reasons for drinking alcohol 205 Concern about alcohol 205 Collated Comments 206 Analysis of the Current Situation 214 Survey Statistics 215 From the profile of the respondents 215 From the rationale for abstinence and drinking 215 From the concerns regarding alcohol 216 From the future of Methodist abstinence 216 Positive responses 216 Negative responses 217 Opportunities 218 Implications of Survey Results 218 Many Methodist people still abstain 218 Many Methodist people who used to abstain, no longer do 219 A desire amongst Methodist for changes in societal drinking habits 220 Support for current Methodist rules 221 Damaging effects of abstinence 222 Uncertainty about origins of Methodist abstinence 222 Chapter 9 – Comparisons between Eras, and Conclusions 225 Thematic Bibliography 235 6 List of Tables and Illustrations • Gin Lane by William Hogarth 64 • Bible Christian Total Abstinence Society Medallion (front profile) 118 • Bible Christian Total Abstinence Society Medallion (rear profile) 118 • Survey Diagram a) gender of respondents 197 • Survey Diagram b) age of respondents 197 • Survey Diagram c) position of those surveyed within the Church 198 • Survey Diagram d) reasons for current abstinence 200 • Survey Diagram e) reasons for previous abstinence 203 • Survey Diagram f) reasons for consuming alcohol 205 • Survey Diagram g) concern about current levels of alcohol consumption 206 7 8 Chapter 1 – Introduction Overview The purpose of this thesis is twofold. First it is to understand the origins and development of temperance and abstinence in British Methodism, particularly through the theology that informed what may broadly be called the Methodist teetotal movement in its period of greatest popularity from 1830 until 1919. Second it is to consider the downfall of this movement in the period from 1945 until 1974, when the Methodist Connexion adopted the view that each Methodist “must consider his personal attitude to all drugs in relation to his Christian vocation”.23 Abstinence is the action of not drinking alcohol. Teetotalism is a pledged abstinence, the idea of which emerged from a group from Preston who promoted this choice from 1831 onwards. Temperance is the name given to the decision to consume alcohol in moderation, which was linked with an earlier group that also emerged from Northern England in the late 1820s. Firstly the thesis will propose that the often overlooked Methodist faction known as the Bible Christians were the first organised Methodist abstainers, and that their decision to become so may well have been influenced by a seedbed theology of sanctification, based upon John Wesley’s theologies of sanctification, holiness and Christian perfection. This thesis will evidence suggestions within relevant historical sources that these foundational beliefs led the Bible Christians to become the first Methodist group historically to corporately promote a teetotal stance. The thesis intends to recover some of the Bible Christian’s diminished historical importance in order to show the significance of their theological underpinnings in the light of their abstinence. Secondly, the thesis will propose that a loss of focus upon holiness as a catalyst for abstinence was detrimental to the growth and continuation of the teetotal movement throughout Methodism after World War Two. Chapters 5 and 6 will highlight how some other more influential Methodist factions, particularly the Wesleyan Methodist Church and Primitive Methodist Church engaged with the idea of teetotalism, but not necessarily the ethos of the Bible Christians. Ultimately, the Methodist people largely rejected this focus on encouraged abstinence in the second half of the twentieth century, 2 A Methodist Statement on the Non-Medical Use Of Drugs: Adopted by the Methodist Conference of 1974 states that “the sincerity and integrity of those who take differing views on whether they should drink or abstain is fully recognised”. 3 “Connexion” is a word now regarded as unique to Methodism, and still used as an archaic spelling of “connection” denoting the particular relationship between all Methodist communities, which sees all groups as interconnected. 9 which changed the community directly and indirectly, and
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